ipl-logo

Forrest Gump Essay

837 Words4 Pages

In film, events are the core at which the plot line revolves around and are the basis on which the audience can learn important themes and ideas. In Robert Zemeckis’ 1994 Academy Award winning film, Forrest Gump, the Storm scene (when Lt. Dan challenges God) is essential. This heartfelt, action-packed event positively impacts one of the main characters in the film, Lt.Dan; he is finally able to forgive and start anew. Upon closer inspection of visual and verbal techniques used by Zemeckis, we can understand why this event positively impacted Lt.Dan.

Prior to the storm scene (when Lt.Dan challenges God), Lt. Dan was a very depressed and angry man who only thought of himself as a “legless freak”. During the Vietnam War, in the 1960s, Lt.Dan …show more content…

Upon the conclusion of his ‘fight’ with God, Lt.Dan, willingly, says to Forrest: “I never got to thank you for saving my life.” This pivotal line from the film is an important part of dialogue. It establishes a turning point in Lt. Dan’s life. After all of the misfortunes that Lt. Dan has experienced throughout the course of his life, most notably losing his legs in Vietnam, it becomes apparent that Lt. Dan realises that he has hit the lowest point in his life and that it can only get better from there. His newfound optimism helps to develop the theme of hope – a prevalent theme in the film. Through this scene, Lt.Dan also makes his peace with God. An extreme long shot is used when Lt.Dan jumps into the sea and swims towards the sunset. Symbolism is masterfully used through this shot; the vast sea mirroring the broad horizon commands attention and symbolises God’s awe and splendour. To aid the subtleness of the scene, a music score is used in the background. The light, soft tune produced by the piano evokes contemplation and reflection in the audience. Therefore, the aftermath of the storm scene positively impacts Lt.Dan as he is finally able to forgive Forrest and look at life with more

Show More
Related
279 Words | 2 Pages

Journal #4 I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and I am on page 304. This book is about a girl named Scout that lives with her brother Jem, her friend Dill, her father Atticus, and her housekeeper Calpurnia. She has many adventures with the boys and learned many great lessons from Atticus. In particular there is the case of Tom Robinson in which Atticus defends him. The kids observe the trial

Read More
561 Words | 3 Pages

(Paulsen, 25). He uses Imagery to create a picture in the reader's mind about the mental stress of war. Another device used to show this is metaphor when Paulsen says "Many of the men crouched as they moved, as if in a heavy rain, and Charley found himself doing the same, and when he was still some twenty yards from the line of trees ahead" (Paulen, 25). He uses this to compare the way the men were acting to a rushed movement, showing the stress and tension of war.

Read More
630 Words | 3 Pages

When their secret high school party in the woods gets dismantled by the police, Joe and Biaggo manage to escape together get lost in the woods and stumble upon an untarnished piece of land, seeing an opportunity. As Roberts pans the camera around the two teenage boys emphasising their discovery of the beauty of the natural world, alternating in unison with the close-up of the teenager’s facial expression, with emphasis on the dilated pupils, indicates the awakening of their interest and change in perceptions towards life. Further, their dialogue begins “(Biaggo) Where are we... (Joe) Someplace they won’t find you”, the dramatic pause in the dialogue shows the realisation of the beauty of nature, with a faded joyful score that shows a greater appreciation toward nature as an escape from a harder life, similar to Hurley escapes from modernism. Thus, the composers utilise the natural world as a catalyst within both texts allowing Hurley and the teenaged boys (Biaggo and Joe) to change their old perceptions and pessimistic perspective towards themselves and their way of

Read More
759 Words | 4 Pages

Historically, throughout every presidential election the state and atmosphere of the country shifts; whether it be towards a negative or positive direction depending on the, subjective, perception of the citizen. In the United States of America, every four years, a new presidential candidate is chosen, through such, arguably life-changing event, the epitome of what a democracy looks like is showcased and performed for the world. As historic and important the 2016 election was in America, considering a woman and celebrity ran against each other, it is evident that what is to come, within the 2020 election, will only further highlight polarizing opinions/parties of American citizens; as it did with the 2016 presidential election. For a prospective

Read More
656 Words | 3 Pages

The general's eyes had left the ground and were traveling inch by inch up the tree. Rainsford froze there, every muscle tensed for a spring. But the sharp eyes of the hunter stopped before they reached the limb where Rainsford lay; a smile spread over his brown face.” The general liked how smart Rainsford was; he wanted to save the best game for last, even though he had a chance to end it then and there. The tone creates this feeling of desperate fear and danger that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Read More
1172 Words | 5 Pages

He has a conflict between his duty to his country and the preservation of himself and his platoon. Simpson has a chance to leave Vietnam, but he is pressured into extending his stay for a month. He wants to make sure he lives but he also gains a bond of brotherhood with his men so he does not want to leave them behind. Simpson struggles with the conflict created by his loyalty to, and understanding of, his men and his Sergeant's persistent ambition that threatens their safety. Lieutenant Carroll is the leader of Richie’s platoon.

Read More
1335 Words | 6 Pages

He was from a family that held the prestigious honor of having “fought and died in every single American war.” When Lt. Dan is saved from certain death in the Vietnam War and later has his legs amputated as a result, he is miserable and questions the very existence of God as exemplified by his categorization of the phenomenon of God listening to his problems as a “crock of [expletive].” Later, he even dares God to take his life as a storm strikes Jenny, their shipping boat. Forrest recounts how “he was scared,” but how “Lieutenant Dan was mad” as he looked toward heaven and taunted God to “come and get me.” Yet in light of Lieutenant Dan’s reckless abandon, Forrest exhibits a desire to preserve his live.

Read More
448 Words | 2 Pages

Through the development of Forrest Gump, he made some positive changes that benefited other people’s life. He helped a variety of people in Vietnam by saving many of his fellow comrades from the bombs which were moments away from killing them. This left a lasting impact on all of the people who Forrest saved as they were granted another day. Lieutenant Dan was originally ungrateful, but over time he realised that Forrest had done the right thing. Originally lieutenant Dan wanted to die because his past relatives had died in battle and he wanted to continue the legacy.

Read More
614 Words | 3 Pages

In society, there are very few people who have the unwavering dedication to stand up for what they believe. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, a black man was convicted and accused of a crime he didn 't commit, raping a white women, which is not in anyway tolerable in society. In Harper Lee 's To Kill A Mockingbird, the author used point of view and symbolism to acknowledge how the the several social divisions which make up much of the adult world are shown to be both irrational and extremely destructive. To begin with, the short story To Kill A Mockingbird, used point of view to show how the many social divisions in the world are irrational and destructive. Scout; a first grade student at the time, was telling the story from her point of view and what had occurred from her childhood perspective.

Read More
792 Words | 4 Pages

“Nobody actually wants to grow up. We just want the freedom to use our youths. ”-Unknown. This quote represents Scouts character. How she wants to understand the world yet she doesn’t want to grow up.

Read More
1118 Words | 5 Pages

Everyone has someone they look up to, whether it be a teacher, parent, or celebrity. These role models are examples both children and adults follow, so it is important that they are surrounded by positive influences. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a widowed father, black maid, independent neighbor, and “drunk” man are all role models for the Finch kids. They influence Scout and Jem’s lives positively, teaching them how to be empathetic.

Read More
634 Words | 3 Pages

“The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool” - Jane Wagner. This is important to keep you alive, because sometimes it’s better to stay out of things and choose your battles. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In To Kill a Mockingbird, author Harper Lee uses characters to delve into civil rights and racism in the segregated South of the 1930s. Told from the point of view of Scout Finch, you learn about her father Atticus Finch, an attorney who desperately strives to validate the innocence of a black man unjustly accused of rape; and about Boo Radley, a secretive neighbor who saves Scout and her brother Jem from being murdered.

Read More
354 Words | 2 Pages

Forrest Gump is about a man in the late 20th century who is on the edge of having mental retardation. This is told by Forrest Gump while he sits and waits for a bus to go see Jenny. Regardless of his setbacks, Forrest does take part in several important historical moments such as being in the Vietnam War along with the Watergate scandal. Because of his naïve nature, the viewers come to fall in love with Forrest Gump as he struggles and triumphs in everyday life.

Read More
707 Words | 3 Pages

TKAM Lit Analysis In the classic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee a little girl, that goes by the name of Scout, and her brother, Jem. The book details the experiences they had in one of the worst times in American history. This dark period is referred to as The Great Depression. The Finch kids learn about all of the problems of the world with the help of her Father, a local Drunk, and the Towns Menace.

Read More
721 Words | 3 Pages

Chapter 3: How realistic was the Vietnam war in the movie? One major event that happened in the movie was the Vietnam war, after graduating, Forrest volunteered for the United States Army, where he befriended former shrimp fisherman Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue, and they agreed to go into the shrimping business together once they end their service. Once they had arrived in Vietnam, they are assigned to First Lieutenant Dan Taylor. One day while on patrol their platoon is ambushed.

Read More

More about Forrest Gump Essay

Related Topics

Open Document